Aitken Dawn, Balogun Saliu, Foong Yi Chao, Humphries David, Laslett Laura, Pitchford Nathan, Khan Hussain, Martel-Pelletier Johanne, Pelletier Jean-Pierre, Abram Francois, Jin Xingzhong, Jones Graeme, Winzenberg Tania
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2021 Sep 29;7(3):e001097. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001097. eCollection 2021.
BACKGROUND/AIM: The clinical relevance of MRI knee abnormalities in athletes is unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MRI knee abnormalities in Australian Rules Football (ARF) players and describe their associations with pain, function, past and incident injury and surgery history.
75 male players (mean age 21, range 16-30) from the Tasmanian State Football League were examined early in the playing season (baseline). History of knee injury/surgery and knee pain and function were assessed. Players underwent MRI scans of both knees at baseline. Clinical measurements and MRI scans were repeated at the end of the season, and incident knee injuries during the season were recorded.
MRI knee abnormalities were common at baseline (67% bone marrow lesions, 16% meniscal tear/extrusion, 43% cartilage defects, 67% effusion synovitis). Meniscal tears/extrusion and synovial fluid volume were positively associated with knee symptoms, but these associations were small in magnitude and did not persist after further accounting for injury history. Players with a history of injury were at a greater risk of having meniscal tears/extrusion, effusion synovitis and greater synovial fluid volume. In contrast, players with a history of surgery were at a greater risk of having cartilage defects and meniscal tears/extrusion. Incident injuries were significantly associated with worsening symptoms, BML development and incident meniscal damage.
MRI abnormalities are common in ARF players, are linked to a previous knee injury and surgery history, as well as incident injury but do not dictate clinical symptomatology.
背景/目的：运动员膝关节磁共振成像（MRI）异常的临床相关性尚不清楚。本研究旨在确定澳大利亚式橄榄球（ARF）运动员膝关节MRI异常的患病率，并描述其与疼痛、功能、既往及新发损伤以及手术史之间的关联。
对来自塔斯马尼亚州足球联赛的75名男性球员（平均年龄21岁，范围16 - 30岁）在赛季初期（基线）进行检查。评估膝关节损伤/手术史、膝关节疼痛及功能情况。球员在基线时接受双膝的MRI扫描。在赛季结束时重复进行临床测量和MRI扫描，并记录赛季期间的新发膝关节损伤情况。
膝关节MRI异常在基线时很常见（67%有骨髓损伤，16%有半月板撕裂/挤出，43%有软骨缺损，67%有积液性滑膜炎）。半月板撕裂/挤出和滑液量与膝关节症状呈正相关，但这些关联程度较小，在进一步考虑损伤史后并不持续存在。有损伤史的球员发生半月板撕裂/挤出、积液性滑膜炎和更大滑液量的风险更高。相比之下，有手术史的球员发生软骨缺损和半月板撕裂/挤出的风险更高。新发损伤与症状恶化、骨髓损伤发展和新发半月板损伤显著相关。
MRI异常在ARF球员中很常见，与既往膝关节损伤和手术史以及新发损伤有关，但并不决定临床症状表现。
